Istanbul dreams

Hi Steemians

This was me after the yoga class in Istanbul. I think I had the happiest days joining Yoga there. Now I stopped, because I am a bit busy, but hope to join soon again :)

Istanbul also known as Constantinople is one of the cities that everyone dreams to visit one day due to its great history and repetition. A city that connects Asia to Europe. Where you can find different people, cultures and religions. The majority are Muslims. But you find also Christians, Jews and many atheists.

Well I lived for a while there and still visiting. Anyhow I feel like i build up a connection. Memories that are unforgettable and keep calling me back. But there is something interesting about this city. Whoever goes there will always return. This is something that everybody says. People from different countries that I met there.
Well let me start from the beginning. Many people came in the past to live there. Turks, Arabs, Persians and many others, like people from Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and many neighbor countries. So Actually what is called Istanbul is a city that opened the door for many people to survive there mostly in the time of the Ottoman Empire.

You still find many people moving there for many reasons. Study, Work or just looking for a better place to live. I met students and workers there from all continents. Everyone looking for a better future away from their own countries.
To get residence permit there is very easy. You just need to pay some fees, bring the health insurance and your address proof. I noticed that girls don't really need to show any bank statement. With Boys they are a bit strict. But of course it depends on nationalities and the reason that brought them to Turkey.

As a new visitor you need to buy Istanbul card. You will need it to use public transportation. Many people order it online for more money. Actually it costs only 6 or 7 Turkish Liras and you can get it in the shop near the Metro station in the airport. You can also get it in every Newspaper or Tobacco Shop. It is easy to use and cheaper then using single jetons for every trip.
You can use your Istanbul Card For metro, bus and ferry .
You get the normal brown card that you can just top up. Every trip will cost 2 Turkish Liras or less. And there is the monthly card.

Istanbul is a big city and to find a good place to live can be sometimes tricky. So the best thing to do is to start looking for a room before travelling. People share flats together, because the rent is too expensive.
The best website where you can find rooms is Craiglist, but there are also many Facebook groups where you can find new posts everyday.
If you prefer to live in the city Center like Taksim area is sometimes difficult, but you should keep looking. The most people prefer to be in the city center, where you can find everything you are looking for. It depends on your work place or University. And of course if you pay more you get a better place. The more you are near the city center, the more you are safer.

Due to their Educational System and schools, not many people speak English in Istanbul. Even in Airports, Banks or Offices. So it is better to have always a translator on your phone and of course Google map.
If you are just moving there and don't have really anything to do there, you can join Turkish classes. It is helpful and you can meet new people.
And if you are an English speaker and looking for job then you should start looking for teaching jobs on Craigslist. Many schools are looking for native speakers, but there are also other that are just looking for anybody who has a TOEFL Certificate.